A pick stitch in

sewing Sewing is the craft of fastening or attaching objects using stitches made with a sewing needle and thread. Sewing is one of the oldest of the textile arts, arising in the Paleolithic era. Before the invention of spinning yarn or weaving fabr ...

is a simple running stitch that catches only a few threads of the fabric, showing very little of the thread on the right side (outer side) of the garment. It is also sometimes known as "stab stitch". A pick stitch can be made from either the inside of the garment or the outside, depending upon how much thread is meant to show on the outside of the garment. A pick stitch is commonly used for making

hem A hem in sewing is a garment finishing method, where the edge of a piece of cloth is folded and sewn to prevent unravelling of the fabric and to adjust the length of the piece in garments, such as at the end of the sleeve or the bottom of the ga ...

s, although it is also used with contrasting thread to create a decorative finish on some garments. It has decorative uses in

embroidery Embroidery is the craft of decorating fabric or other materials using a needle to apply thread or yarn. Embroidery may also incorporate other materials such as pearls, beads, quills, and sequins. In modern days, embroidery is usually seen on c ...

. It is exceedingly useful for inserting zips and is strong. Many home-sewers and new dressmakers find this much easier than inserting zips by sewing machine. A pick stitch along the outside of a lapel is a hallmark of a "high-end, hand-made" men's suit or blazer. A finely made pick stitch is difficult to accomplish but can be achieved with practice. File:Pick stitch hem.jpg, A pick stitched hem using thread that closely matches the colour of the fabric, appearing almost invisible on the outside of the garment.

References

{{Sewing Embroidery stitches Needlework Sewing stitches